'Emergency Alert Message: Severe' On Your Phone Today? Here's all you need to know

Despite the initiative's goal of improving public safety, receivers of the test notification have expressed worry, underscoring the need for effective prior notification of similar experiments in the future.

On Friday, several people's cell phones alerted them to a "Emergency Alert - Severe" situation. Since July, consumers have experienced five or six instances of receiving a "emergency alert: severe message."

"This is a SAMPLE TESTING MESSAGE sent through Cell Broadcasting System by Department of Telecommunication, Government of India. Please ignore this message as no action is required from your end. This message has been sent to TEST Pan-India Emergency Alert System being implemented by National Disaster Management Authority. It aims to enhance public safety and provide timely alerts during emergencies." Read the message along with the time and date on which it was issued were also indicated in the notification.

Following the government sending out a test "Emergency Alert - Severe" message to citizens' mobile phones today, several Indians have resorted to Twitter to voice their worry. Since there was no prior warning, some people immediately panicked when they received the message, which was meant to be an experiment. Those who received the warning, which stated, "This is a test alert from the Department of Telecommunication, Government of India," expressed confusion. Many people questioned whether the "Emergency Alert" was a legitimate government test or a deceitful attempt at internet fraud.

On Twitter, users have discussed their stories and contacted officials for clarification. The problem has immediately gathered traction on social media as additional individuals shared experiences that were comparable to their own. The Department of Telecommunication and TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) have also been tagged and have received requests for information and specifics regarding the notice.

In response to the worries, the notification was is in fact a component of a government system designed to notify citizens in an emergency and there is nothing to worry about as such messages have been received by citizens in the past as well.

The National Disaster Management Authority and the Department of Telecommunications will work together to test the Cell Broadcast Alert System on July 20 in order to improve emergency communication during catastrophes and guarantee the safety and well-being of citizens. The Ministry of Communications had earlier stated in a statement that each telecom service provider is undergoing tests for the Cell Broadcast Alert System.

According to a statement from the Department of Telecommunication, "These tests will be conducted periodically in different parts of the country to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of emergency alert broadcasting capabilities of the systems in place, of various Mobile Operators and Cell Broadcast Systems, the Cell Broadcasting System."

Governmental organisations and emergency services use the Cell Broadcast Alert System to warn the public about potential dangers and keep them updated in dire circumstances. Emergency alerts, such as extreme weather warnings (such as tsunami, flash flood, earthquake, among other,) public safety messages, evacuation orders, and other important information, are frequently delivered via cell broadcast. According to the announcement, users may experience simulated emergency notifications on their mobile devices throughout the trial period.

Despite the initiative's goal of improving public safety, receivers of the test notification have expressed worry, underscoring the need for effective prior notification of similar experiments in the future. Last but not least, the recent "Emergency Alert - Severe" notification from the government sparked a wave of inquiries and worries on Twitter. Although it caused some confusion at first, it was eventually determined to be a test notification for the government's emergency alert system.